October 15 (SeeNews) - Right-wing opposition on Monday filed a no-confidence motion against Bulgaria's Socialist-led coalition government over what it described as a collapse of the cabinet's education policy, state news agency BTA reported.
The no-confidence motion comes at a time when the tripartite government coalition in Bulgaria is rocked by a nationwide strike of teachers seeking a pay rise, now in its fourth week, and just two weeks before Bulgaria holds local elections. Analysts and industry representatives have said urgent reforms of the education sector are needed to boost competition and improve the quality of education.
BTA said that 64 right-wing and independent members of parliament had signed the motion. It must be put to debate in parliament within a week's time and a vote has to take place within 24 hours after the debate. The opposition needs to get at least 121 votes in the 240-seat parliament to oust the government led by Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev.
The ruling coalition, comprising the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the centrist National Movement for Simeon II (NMSII) and the predominantly ethnic Turk Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), controls 169 seats in the chamber. It has survived three votes of no-confidence since taking office in August 2005.